*system*

n. 1. a system of electronic equipment for recording or reproducing sound.
Syn. -- sound system. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

. In fire-alarm telegraphy, a system so arranged that when one alarm is being transmitted, no other alarm, sent in from another point, will be transmitted until after the first alarm has been disposed of. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

(Mach.) A system (devised by Henri Pieper, a Belgian) of driving automobiles employing a gasoline engine and an auxiliary reversible dynamo. When there is an excess of power the dynamo is driven by the engine so as to charge a small storage battery; when there is a deficiency of power the dynamo reverses and acts as an auxiliary motor. Sometimes called Pieper system. -- Automixte car, etc. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

. (Aëronautics) See Cloche. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

[ After Alphonse Bertillon, French anthropologist. ] A system for the identification of persons by a physical description based upon anthropometric measurements, notes of markings, deformities, color, impression of thumb lines, etc. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

adj. of or pertaining to biosystematics. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. use of data (e. g. cytogenetic or biochemical) to assess taxonomic relations esp within an evolutionary framework.
Syn. -- biosystematy. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. use of data (e. g. cytogenetic or biochemical) to assess taxonomic relations especially within an evolutionary framework.
Syn. -- biosystematics. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

. (Railroads) A system by which the track is divided into short sections, as of three or four miles, and trains are so run by the guidance of electric, or combined electric and pneumatic, signals that no train enters a section or block until the preceding train has left it, as in
absolute blocking, or that a train may be allowed to follow another into a block as long as it proceeds with excessive caution, as in
permissive blocking. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

. (Elec.) A system or method of connecting and operating two induction motors so that the primary circuit of one is connected to the secondary circuit of the other, the primary circuit of the latter being connected to the source of supply; also, a system of electric traction in which motors so connected are employed. The cascade system is also called
tandem system, or
concatenated system; the connection a
cascade connection,
tandem connection, or
concatenated connection, or
a concatenation; and the control of the motors so obtained a
tandem control, or
concatenation control. In the cascade system of traction the cascade connection is used for starting and for low speeds up to half speed. For full speed the short-circuited motor is cut loose from the other motor and is either left idle or (commonly) connected direct to the line. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

. (Law) The system of teaching law in which the instruction is primarily a historical and inductive study of leading or selected cases, with or without the use of textbooks for reference and collateral reading. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

n. the portion of the vertebrate nervous system consisting of the brain and spinal cord; -- abbreviated CNS.
Syn. -- CNS. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

(of education) The system of home study established in connection with the summer schools assembled at Chautauqua, N. Y., by the Methodist Episcopal bishop, J. H. Vincent. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

. (Elec.) A system of electric traction, esp. for light railways, in which the actuating current passes along a wire or rail laid in an underground conduit, from which the current is “picked up” by a plow or other device fixed to the car or electric locomotive. Hence . [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

. (Hist.) The system of commercial blockade aiming to exclude England from commerce with the Continent instituted by the
Berlin decree, which Napoleon I. issued from Berlin Nov. 21, 1806, declaring the British Isles to be in a state of blockade, and British subjects, property, and merchandise subject to capture, and excluding British ships from all parts of Europe under French dominion. The retaliatory measures of England were followed by the
Milan decree, issued by Napoleon from Milan Dec. 17, 1807, imposing further restrictions, and declaring every ship going to or from a port of England or her colonies to be lawful prize. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

. 1. The sweating system. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

2. The system of employing convicts by selling their labor (to be performed inside the prison) at a fixed price per day to contractors who are allowed to have agents in the prison to superintend the work. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

[ After Sir Walter Crofton, Irish penologist. ] (Penology) A system of prison discipline employing for consecutive periods cellular confinement, associated imprisonment under the mark system, restraint intermediate between imprisonment and freedom, and liberation on ticket of leave. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

n., or . A system of calisthenics patterned on the theories of François Delsarte (1811 -- 71), a French teacher of dramatic and musical expression. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

def>A haulage system for canal boats, in which an electric locomotive running on a monorail has its adhesion materially increased by the pull of the tow rope on a series of inclined gripping wheels. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

n. def>A worldwide system of electronic navigation in which a vessel, aircraft or missile determines its latitude and longitude by measuring the transmission time from several orbiting satellites. GPS is more precise than any other navigation system available, yielding position accurate within 10 meters 95% of the time.
Syn. -- GPS.
[ RH ]

The precision of the GPS is dependent upon the very high timing accuracy of atomic clocks. Although the military originally intentionally degraded the signal and thus the accuracy for civilian users, GPS was nevertheless more precise than any other navigation system available. In 2000, President Clinton issued an executive order discontinuing the degrading of the signal for civilians. [ RH ]

On June 26, 1993 . . . the U.S. Air Force launched the 24th Navstar satellite into orbit, completing a network of 24 satellites known as the Global Positioning System, or GPS. With a GPS receiver that costs less than a few hundred dollars you can instantly learn your location on the planet -- your latitude, longitude, and even altitude -- to within a few hundred feet.
This incredible new technology was made possible by a combination of scientific and engineering advances, particularly development of the world's most accurate timepieces: atomic clocks that are precise to within a billionth of a second. https://web.archive.org/web/20011125121826/http://www4.nationalacademies.org/beyond/beyonddiscovery.nsf/web/gps?OpenDocument [ PJC ]

a. [ Homo- + systemic. ] (Biol.) Developing, in the case of multicellular organisms, from the same embryonic systems into which the secondary unit (gastrula or plant enbryo) differentiates. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Biol.) The complex of cells, cellular processes, and substances within and diffused throughout an organism which allow the organism to counteract or destroy noxious foreign substances introduced into the body, destroy infectious agents such as bacteria and viruses, destroy malignant cells, and remove cellular debris, thus protecting the organism against many of the potentially harmful external agents and internal events that could lead to sickness or death. The system has numerous interacting components, including circulating antibodies, antibody-producing cells, white blood cells and lymphokines, lymph tissue and lymph nodes, and stem cells which may differentiate into other types of cell, together with the thymus and spleen. The system is responsible for the phenomenon of immunity{ 3 }. See also immunoglobulin and antibody. [ PJC ]

n. (Anatomy, Neurophysiology) A group of neural structures in the brain below the cerebral cortex, centered on the hypothalamus and including the hippocampus and amygdala, involved with control of emotion, motivation, memory, and some homeostatic regulatory processes. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

At the most ancient part of the human brain lies the spinal cord; the medulla and pons, which comprise the hindbrain; and the midbrain. This cobination of spinal cord, hindbrain, and midbrain MacLean calls the neural chassis. It contains the basic neural machinery for reproduction and self-preservation, . . . MacLean has distinguished three sorts of [ more recent brain structures controlling ] the neural chassis. The most ancient of them surround the midbrain. . . . We share it with the other mammals and the reptiles. It probably evolved several hundred million years ago. MacLean calls it the reptilian or R-complex. Surrounding the R-complex is the limbic system, so called because it borders on the underlying brain. (Our arms and legs are called limbs because they are peripheral to the rest of the body.) We share the limbic system with other mammals, but not, in its full elaboration, with the reptiles. It probably evolved more than one hundred fifty million years ago. Finally, surrounding the rest of the brain and clearly the most recent evolutionary accretion, is the neocortex. Carl Sagan (The Dragons of Eden, New York, Random House, 1977). [ PJC ]

(Elec.) A system or wireless telegraphy developed by G. Marconi, an Italian physicist, in which Hertzian waves are used in transmission and a coherer is used as the receiving instrument. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

pos>n. A system of weights and measures originating in France, the use of which is required by law in many countries, and permitted in many others, including the United States; the system is also called by its French name, Le Système International de Unités (abbreviated SI). The principal unit of length is the meter (see Meter). From this are formed the are, the liter, the stere, the gram, etc. These units, and others derived from them, are divided decimally, and larger units are formed from multiples by 10, 100, 1, 000, and 10, 000. The successive multiplies are designated by the prefixes, deka- (formerly deca-), hecto-, kilo-, and myria- (seldom used); successive parts by deci-, centi-, and milli-. The prefixes mega- and micro- are used to denote a multiple by one million, and the millionth part, respectively; giga- and nano- denote multiples of one billion (1, 000, 000, 000) and one billionth, respectively. The prefix for one trillion (10¹²) is tera, and for one trillionth (10^-12) is pico; for one quintillion (10¹⁵) peta, and for (10^-15) (one quintillionth) femto; for (10^-18) atto. See the words formed with these prefixes in the Vocabulary. For metric tables, see p. 1682. [ 1913 Webster +PJC ]

n. [ L. systema, Gr. &unr_;, fr. &unr_; to place together; sy`n with + &unr_; to place: cf. F. système. See Stand. ] 1. An assemblage of objects arranged in regular subordination, or after some distinct method, usually logical or scientific; a complete whole of objects related by some common law, principle, or end; a complete exhibition of essential principles or facts, arranged in a rational dependence or connection; a regular union of principles or parts forming one entire thing; as, a system of philosophy; a system of government; a system of divinity; a system of botany or chemistry; a military system; the solar system. [ 1913 Webster ]

The best way to learn any science, is to begin with a regular system, or a short and plain scheme of that science well drawn up into a narrow compass. I. Watts. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Hence, the whole scheme of created things regarded as forming one complete plan of whole; the universe. “The great system of the world.” Boyle. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Regular method or order; formal arrangement; plan; as, to have a system in one's business. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Mus.) The collection of staves which form a full score. See Score, n. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. (Biol.) An assemblage of parts or organs, either in animal or plant, essential to the performance of some particular function or functions which as a rule are of greater complexity than those manifested by a single organ; as, the capillary system, the muscular system, the digestive system, etc.; hence, the whole body as a functional unity. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. (Zool.) One of the stellate or irregular clusters of intimately united zooids which are imbedded in, or scattered over, the surface of the common tissue of many compound ascidians. [ 1913 Webster ]

Block system,
Conservative system, etc. See under Block, Conservative, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } a. [ Gr. &unr_;: cf. F. systématique. ] 1. Of or pertaining to system; consisting in system; methodical; formed with regular connection and adaptation or subordination of parts to each other, and to the design of the whole; as, a systematic arrangement of plants or animals; a systematic course of study. [ 1913 Webster ]

Now we deal much in essays, and unreasonably despise systematical learning; whereas our fathers had a just value for regularity and systems. I. Watts. [ 1913 Webster ]

A representation of phenomena, in order to answer the purposes of science, must be systematic. Whewell. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Proceeding according to system, or regular method; as, a systematic writer; systematic benevolence. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Pertaining to the system of the world; cosmical. [ 1913 Webster ]

These ends may be called cosmical, or systematical. Boyle. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Med.) Affecting successively the different parts of the system or set of nervous fibres; as, systematic degeneration. [ 1913 Webster ]

Systematic theology. See under Theology. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In a systematic manner; methodically. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The reduction of facts or principles to a system. Dunglison. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. systématiste. ] 1. One who forms a system, or reduces to system. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. One who adheres to a system. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. systématization. ] The act or operation of systematizing. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Systematized p. pr. & vb. n. Systematizing ] [ Cf. F. systématiser. Cf. Systemize. ] To reduce to system or regular method; to arrange methodically; to methodize; as, to systematize a collection of plants or minerals; to systematize one's work; to systematize one's ideas. [ 1913 Webster ]

Diseases were healed, and buildings erected, before medicine and architecture were systematized into arts. Harris. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who systematizes. [ 1913 Webster ]

Aristotle may be called the systematizer of his master's doctrines. Harris. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Gr. &unr_;, &unr_;, system + -logy. ] The doctrine of, or a treatise upon, systems. Dunglison. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. 1. Of or relating to a system; common to a system; as, the systemic circulation of the blood. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Anat. & Physiol.) Of or pertaining to the general system, or the body as a whole; as, systemic death, in distinction from local death; systemic circulation, in distinction from pulmonic circulation; systemic diseases. [ 1913 Webster ]

Systemic death. See the Note under Death, n., 1. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The act or process of systematizing; systematization. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Systemized p. pr. & vb. n. Systemizing ] [ Cf. Systematize. ] To reduce to system; to systematize. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who systemizes, or reduces to system; a systematizer.

a. 1. Being without system. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Nat. Hist.) Not agreeing with some artificial system of classification. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Biol.) Not having any of the distinct systems or types of structure, as the radiate, articulate, etc., characteristic of organic nature; as, all unicellular organisms are systemless. [ 1913 Webster ]

. (Elec.) same as Cascade system. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

. (Electric Railways) A system in which a third rail is used for carrying the current for operating the motors, the rail being insulated from the ground and the current being taken off by means of contact brushes or other devices. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

. (Aeronautics) Any system of rudders by which the pilot can exert a turning moment about each of the three rectangular axes of an aeroplane or airship. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

A system of registration of titles to land (as distinct from registration of deeds) introduced into South Australia by the Real Property (or Torrens) Act (act 15 of 1857-58), drafted by Sir Robert Torrens (1814-84). Its essential feature is the guaranty by the government of properly registered titles. The system has been generally adopted in Australia and British Columbia, and in its original or a modified form in some other countries, including some States of the United States. Hence
Torrens title, etc. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]